Paradise!

“Reading is my favourite occupation, when I have leisure for it and books to read.”

— Anne Brontë

#TheLastHours is complete! Can’t wait to start #ChainofThorns by @cassieclare1! She is my favorite author and the author responsible that ignited my love of reading #bookstagram #booklr #reader #books #shadowhunters https://www.instagram.com/p/CotCnWWJdv8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Spending my night curled up with a good book, hot coffee and fresh chocolate chip and sea salt caramel cookies! #books #bookstagram #booklr #reading #thehateugive #angiethomas https://www.instagram.com/p/Cigpk_vsjn7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The kind of built ins I need in my future house

Finally broke 600 pages in this behemoth of a book! Going to finish it today! #books #reading #bookstagram #chainofiron #shadowhunterchronicles #cassandraclare https://www.instagram.com/p/ChsIsHUuaXF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Listening to a throwback playlist and I may need to do a deep dive on Maroon 5 soon… so good!

This year is officially the year of me…meaning I’m investing in myself 100% so I can achieve all my goals and live my life the way I want to! #yearofme #newyearsresolution https://www.instagram.com/p/CYmQr7tJTsW/?utm_medium=tumblr

Android VS Apple: My Experience

Intro

Being a child of the 90s, as I was growing up and I started to acquire and use cell phones, two companies came to the forefront of the cellular industry and dominated the market, Apple and Android. These two companies had two very different philosophies when it came the user experience. These philosophies would help shape the industry into what is has become today, and with them being in constant competition, it helped drive each company to improve their products, software and services which gives consumers the power of choice for how they spend their hard earned money and which company to do business with. Each company offers the relatively same things, but their implementation is what differentiates them from one another. I will be reflecting on my time on each respective platform and disclose my likes and dislikes and ultimately which I have chosen to personally use.

Android

When I first started to use smartphones, I used android because they had phones in varying price ranges and I was able to more easily afford an android phone. One of the first android phones I had was an HTC wildfire, then I had a Motorola droid razr. After that I switched to iphone for awhile and then I switched to Pixel 3, which I really liked for awhile, then I switched to a Pixel 4 XL and I loved the camera and the face unlock, but the battery was awful. I eventually switched to Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. I really liked the note 20 ultra, the camera was great and it was snappy and responsive and I loved customizing the home screen and the 120 hz refresh rate was very nice too, but there a couple things that made me eventually switch back to Apple. One of the things that led me to switch was the inconsistency with updates. The other thing that I didn't like was all the steps it seemed to take to do everything and how certain apps would not work on my smartwatch.

Apple

One of the first apple products I had was an iPod, and I loved that thing, I used it everyday and spent so much money iTunes cards so I could download new releases or older releases for my music library. I did not get my first iPhone until my sophomore year in college and I got an iPhone 5s and coming from an android, I loved the experience because I also had a macbook for school so now I could use the same apple ID so sync of my things between my phone and laptop. Unfortunately I ran out of space on my phone rather quickly, I ended up switching to android for 5 years before I switched back to iPhone in November 2020 because of the poor experience I was having on android's platform. One of the main reasons I switched to apple devices is because I feel that it is easier to navigate on IOS than android. Since android phones come from different manufacturers, their devices can operate slightly different from one another and I did not care for the inconsistency as well as inconsistency with updates to the phone since they had to go through so many different channels before being available to the end user. With Apple having control over the hardware and the software, the experience on every apple device is consistent and smooth because Apple optimizes it's software to run extremely well on it's products. I also appreciate how all my content syncs from device to device and the only login information I need is for my Apple ID. What I value in the devices I use is ease of use, reliability and consistency and apple delivers on every single one. Also, you get a better return on investment with apple devices as they hold their value longer than their android counterparts.

Final Thoughts

I understand this is about my singular experience with using android and apple devices and my goal was to be as objective as possible and ultimately, I am going to be slightly bias due to having a current preference on the devices I use. In my case based on what I valued in the devices I use, Apple is the better option for me because they control the experience from the top down. I also understand that many people prefer android due to the customer having more choice over how they want android to run and look, and that is has more options and in different price ranges. Although, as someone who works in wireless sales, the pricing for devices is pretty even nowadays. Although Android phones may have higher specs, Apple's devices are optimized extremely which is why Apple devices don't need as much ram or bigger batteries, they have their own custom silicon which is a key factor. The choice is still up to the individual, but I'd rather spend a little more to have a consistent and better overall experience.

My night is all booked! Settling in with Chain of Iron and some tea ☕️ 📖😁

I stopped by my favorite local bookstore @ballyhoobooks to treat myself to some new books! I am so happy our local community finally has a bookstore! I’ve visited many times and have taken many new books home! I love supporting local businesses, especially one with books 😁📖📚#books #localbookstore #ballyhoobooks #shoplocal #bookstagram #booklr https://www.instagram.com/p/CU1NYE9lwOb/?utm_medium=tumblr

Finally got @xtinemay’s new novel #bettertogether! I loved her debut novel and I’ve watching her YouTube channel since I started reading for fun back in the early 2010s! Can’t wait to jump into your new book Christine! 😃📖 #books #booklr #contemporary #tbr #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CUyY4ipsYMP/?utm_medium=tumblr

I’m in a reading slump...

For the last several months I have been in a reading slump and it seems I do not know how to get myself out of it. I have a plethora of books here in my cozy apartment, but nothing seems to pique my interest at the moment. 

I feel my slump is partly due to the fact and I am an adult who works a full time job and when I get home, I am tired and just want to sit down and relax. But I know that the other part is that I am not making time for reading like I did before.

I have usually been a pretty adamant reader but recently due to some of the realities of life that I’ve dealt with, I haven’t felt at ease enough to relax and fall into a book. Now that I am settling into my new apartment, I will hopefully be able relax and fall back into the many different worlds awaiting my arrival. 

For those of you out there that find this and happy to read all the way to the end, if you’ve ever been in a reading slump, how have you gotten yourself out of it? Give me some recommendations on countering the slump? 

Anyways, happy reading to those who are not in an slump!

August 2021 TBR

With being in a serious reading slump, I have to play catch up so I can try to make a serious dent in my TBR pile. I am nearly half-way through COI (Chain of Iron) and have made decent progress through The Hate U Give and Dangerous Deception. My Goal for this month is to finish all these stories and I’ve been in the middle of for sometime. 

source: [goodreads]

Title: Chain of Iron Author: Cassandra Clare Publisher: McElderry Books Genre(s): YA, Fantasy, Fiction

source: [goodreads]

Title: The Hate U Give Author: Angie Thomas Publisher: Balzer + Bray Genre(s): YA, Fiction, Contemporary, Race, Social Justice

source: [goodreads]

Title: Dangerous Deception Author(s): Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl Publisher: Little Brown Genre(s): YA, Fiction, Fantasy, 

Update: Where I’ve Been

Hello everyone, it has been quite awhile since I’ve posted anything and for that I apologize, but some real life things have happened recently that took precedence over my blog.

I had to move quite suddenly recently, at the old apartment building I lived at, my car ended up getting damaged and since that incident occurred, I had a hard time getting good sleep and was super anxious just being at my apartment. My landlord did not really screen other tenants before they moved in and I just honestly did not feel in the place that was suppose to be my home. I was very fortunate to find another place rather quickly for cheaper. I have finally settled into my new place and now that I am at ease, I will be reading for pleasure more and posting more bookish content henceforth. 

I have also been in a reading slump with all the various apartment issues I was having and other life-things that I’ve been dealing with. I was just not in the right headspace to read or blog for awhile. I am feeling a lot more at ease and want to read again. 

April 2021 TBR

It’s halfway through April and I have two books I am wanting to finish this month. I haven’t read as often as I would have liked to, but I’m going to try make progress to complete my goal!

source: [goodreads]

Title: Chain of Iron Author: Cassandra Clare Publisher: McElderry Books Genre(s): YA, Fantasy, Ficiton

This is the second installment of The Last Hours trilogy that follows The Infernal Devices. We pick up right where we left off, James and Cordelia's impeding nuptials. There also seems to be a mysterious killer on the loose that are killing Shadowhunters for no apparent reason! Also Tatiana Blackthorn and recently injured Prince of Hell, Belial, are plotting something sinister to take the Shadowhunters down.

source: [goodreads]

Title: The Hate U Give Author: Angie Thomas Publisher: Balzer + Bray Genre(s): YA, Fiction, Contemporary, Race, Social Justice

16 year-old Starr lives in two different worlds, the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy preparatory school she attends. She lives a delicately balanced life between these worlds but this balance is thrown off balance when she witnesses her childhood friend being fatally shot by a police officer.